“I beg your pardon. I do not understand.”
“I mean, Lady Alderman, you are assuming that we are to be married. And I know my memory slips from time to time, but I do not remember asking you to marry me.”
A blank expression crossed Prunella’s face—but only briefly. “Oh, but your attentions… your invitation to visit Pemberton… is that not an explicit proposal of sorts?”
“You delude yourself, Lady Alderman. I have no intention of marrying you now, next month, nor indeed, ever.”
She was stunned into silence. “But…”
“I am most grateful that you chose to invest in our business, and we promise to do everything in our power to increase the value of your investment, but do not think, for one moment, that our connection will ever go beyond that.”
“Thomas… how can you be so rude?”
“Ever since you arrived you have demeaned Pemberton, belittled our traditions and showed disdain for my family. I really do not see what possible interest you would have in marrying into this family.”
“But my forty thousand… I thought…”
Thomas nodded several times as he gathered his thoughts. “Lady Alderman, I am certain there are many gentlemen who would jump at the opportunity to marry you. However, I am not one of them.”
“But your title. I thought I was to be a duchess,” she said tearing up and pulling out her handkerchief to dab at her eyes.
“Alas, Prunella, it is not to be so.”
* * *
Thomas and George were shown to Ralph’s study where he was seated by the fire, lighting his pipe.
“Gentlemen, an unexpected surprise. Welcome. And to what do I owe the pleasure?”
Thomas stepped forward. “We have not heard what has happened with your troubles. Helena says no authorities have come to whisk you away.”
Ralph shook his head. “And that is the absolute truth. No one has contacted me. I went to London to visit with your solicitor, and he knew of no charges and said that, as far as he knew, I was to be given a commendation for turning those rascals in to the tax and rev people.”
“Did he say if Wilcox had been taken to London?”
“He has. But that was all he knew, besides the fact that he was being held at Marshalsea Prison.”
“Curious,” Thomas said, removing his gloves. “What can my uncle be up to?”
George stepped forward, “Perhaps your uncle has said nothing about his involvement in France.”
Ralph shrugged. “I have no idea. All I know is, at this moment, there have been no consequences.”
George stepped forward. “Father… I may call you that, may I not? As Helena and I are soon to be united.”
“If you wish.”
Thomas thought he knew what George was about to do, and he restrained him by the arm and shook his head. George took Thomas aside and whispered, “It will be fine. It looks as though there will be no charges. We can ask him.”
“George, we agreed,” Thomas said, cautioning him.
“Gentlemen, why the whispering?” Ralph asked, getting out of his chair and lighting his pipe. “There is no need for secrets between us.”
“Thomas…” George tried nudging his friend forward.
“Out with it, gentlemen. What is it you want to say?”
George could restrain himself no longer, and he turned to Ralph and said, “Sir, now that there has been a reconciliation between us, we were wondering if you might reconsider your decision about investing with us in our project. We have raised all but a small amount, and we are well on our way to success. We wanted to give you an opportunity to become a part of this if you are still interested.”
